Istria Named in Wine Enthusiast’s 10 Best World Wine Destinations

Wine Enthusiast annually produce a list of the world’s most exciting wine destinations, giving readers an insight into the connection the destination has with wine as well as tips whilst they are there. This year Istria has made the list, joining other top wine destinations such as the stunning Hawkes Bay in New Zealand, Finger Lakes in upstate New York, France’s second-largest wine region Rhône Valley, and Galicia in Spain in the top 10 best wine destinations for 2015.

“Remnants of a distant Roman past, Venetian Empire architecture, picturesque hilltop villages, panoramic sea views, year-round festivals, inspired cuisine and fantastic wines are all reasons to put Istria on your bucket list of wine regions to visit. First-timers in Istria are always astonished by the high quality of the local wine, particularly Malvasia Istriana, a white wine made in a fresh, crisp version and an oak- or acacia-aged style. Chardonnay is also grown across the peninsula and is bottled either oaked or unoaked. Red varieties include the indigenous Teran, which is grown in different soil types. It produces a potent red wine, often with feral characteristics, but skilled Istrian winemakers can tame it. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot are some of the other reds grown and are often blended together, with or without Teran,” wrote the Wine Enthusiast. (photo / Croatia.hr)